Sep 12, 2006
W. R. Tish has had the second half of his long article on America’s glossy wine magazines published by Wines & Vines magazine, a trade publication. No one will miss the irony that Tish delivers has he rates the glossies on a 100 Point scale. I won’t give away the outcome of Tish’s exercise in critiquing the critics other than to say that Wine & Spirits Magazine comes out looking good in his estimation. Tish focuses on three publications: The…
Sep 5, 2006
I think we tend to have this rather staid image of wine & food writers (perhaps wine, more than food). They are hunkered over a glass, eyes closed, inhaling the essence of the wine. They are proper folk, likely to wear tweed, maybe Brooks Brothers or Ann Klein. Perhaps they are jazz aficionados or classical types. They travel the world and run with a set somewhat above our own. The last thing you’d expect to see them doing is shaking…
Aug 29, 2006
Another winery client at Wark Communications is about to take up blogging. This occasion has given me the opportunity to think about what’s important in this pursuit. One of those things is honesty and openness. I believe readers respond best to those who disclose as much as is prudent to their readers. Oddly, this point was driven home yesterday when I was looking over a new website, not a blog, that I think might have potential. But, as I cruised…
Aug 23, 2006
Decanter Magazine, that British icon of wine publishing, recently announced its list of Top Ten White Winemakers in the World. The fact that no American winemakers made the list prodded Charles Olken of the Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine, one of our best wine newsletters, to craft his own list: Top Ten White Wine Makers West of the Rockies. The List is very intriguing. Number three on the list, for example, is an inspired choice. Anyone who doesn’t like crafting…
Aug 22, 2006
Virginie Boone over at WineAbout (the newest journalilst-written wine blog) has a really interesting post on an upcoming wine movie that features Russell Crow and set to debut in November. About the upcoming film, entitled "A Good Year", Boone writes: "The success of "Sideways" must have finally gotten the Hollywood types thinking… maybe the inherent romance of wine can fill seats on the big screen. The time to strike is certainly now." She’s right, isn’t she. It strikes me further…